Online job advertisement data highlight the shift in skills required for the clean economy transition. While still a relatively small segment of the labour market, mentions of renewable energy-related skills more than doubled between 2018 and 2023.
Renewable energy-related skills are most common for manager, professional and technician and trades worker roles. Mentions of renewable energy skills have more than doubled for managers and professionals over the past five years and increased by more than 80 per cent for technicians and trades workers.
Among technician and trades worker roles, science technician, electrical engineering draftsperson and technician, electrical distribution trades worker, and electrician advertisements are most likely to mention renewable energy-related skills.
The fastest growing clean economy skills demanded are in air quality and emissions, conservation, and clean energy which are among the 10 fastest growing skill clusters across the whole labour market. Demand for water energy and climate change-related skills have also more than doubled.
Table 3.1: Air quality and emissions and conservation have been the fastest growing clean economy skills demanded
| Growth, 2028 to 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Air quality and emissions | 387% |
| Conservation | 257% |
| Clean energy | 222% |
| Water energy | 175% |
| Climate change | 127% |
Source: Lightcast, 2024.
Updated